Extreme close up

Toowoomba, Australia

Stationery

Greeting Card

Artist's Description

This is a picture from my day job. The red balls are grass pollen, and the tubes from them are growing down into the flower to fertilise the ovary. To get ready for the photo took some serious effort to get the timing right, then use of chemicals to stain the pollen red, then actually get to the microscope to take the photo.

After reading in the forums about the paths people have taken to become artists, and thinking of my desire to be one (as in, to be able to spend all my time on creative pursuits), I began to think about what skills I have already from my current path. My challenge was to find a creative application of those skills, because I’m not in a position to give up work. Yet :)

I’ve been using photography to record my work for many years, so that was the first and most obvious answer.

I just thought I’d throw that up for interest, as it’s not the sort of thing that you would want framed in your living room I’m sure LOL!

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Artwork Comments

I don’t know about that Damian. I find this image absolutely fascinating and appreciate the enormous effort it has taken to capture it. I would definately hang it in my living room. It would be a wonderful conversation piece especially in light of the subject matter. Sex is, after all, everyones favourite subject!! It is a beautiful shot.

Precisely the reason why you should endeavour to create more of these wonderful other worldly images in order to give those of us with less facsinating day jobs a small glimpse into the wonderous microscopic world of biology. Hope you enjoy your weekend Damian.

Hey Damian, I actually really enjoy these kind of microcosmic images. The idea that there are so many of these processes going on at other levels, and that there is a unique aesthetic to them is a great path to explore.

Thanks again Kitsmumma! You’re making me think about what else I have sitting around overlooked LOL. It may be partly that the images are taken to serve a function, so you stop seeing past the function?

Thanks Chris, you can certainly get into these things at many different levels of magnification and find something different. I’ve also been thinking of the images on RB that I’ve been enjoying a lot – usually they’re so far removed from what I do, image wise. Do we all see everyone elses work as more facinating than our own?

if i had money and my own place to put it up.. its going up in my room so i can stare at it in confusion.. the flower tubey things looks like its embossed onto the image… great work~ can you take a picture of some blood cells? would love to see how they turn out…

LOL, thanks rawbun! You give me laughter, I give you confusion, an excellent trade!That embossed look you mention was hard to get, so that’s partly why I like this image over others I took that day. Depth-of-field is a killer at these magnifications.And a quest – a quest for blood! Cool, I’m on it. Now for a donor…